Electronic Shoeboxing #5

This time the scissors – like internet diving rods – zeroed in on a nice review for my first novel Redemption Corps. I found it on a reading community called Cafe Libri and the kind reviewer was a man called Kendall Fontenot. Part of the idea behind Electronic Shoeboxing is to help me keep track of responses to my work - building up a collection in one place – and also to recognize the effort readers go to when not only buying and enjoying a book but also posting their thoughts online. Anyway, thanks Kendall!

'Rob Sanders' "Redemption Corps" adds a wonderful character to Warhammer 40K's Imperial Guard Novel series in Major Zane Mortensen. Having read a number of the Warhammer books, I can honestly say that few characters have been as fleshed out in one tale as much as Mortensen.

"Redemption Corps" centers on Mortensen and his loyally lethal band of storm-troopers as they take on one suicidal mission after another. The Redemption Corps open the book by taking on a Volscian uprising aboard the "Deliverance." From there, they take on a planet seemingly hungry for rebellion and then tackle a rescue mission on a deathworld. These missions eventually culminate in a final face-off with a surprising enemy on a world literally facing complete destruction.

As the Redemption Corps cuts their way through each mission (losing many of their own along the way), it becomes obvious to Mortensen that these missions all have one point to them: to have him killed.

Preceding every chapter of the book is a glimpse into future events that does somewhat throw off the flow of the book. While these drop a number of clues and introduce numerous characters that do not appear until later in the tale, they don't ruin the enjoyment of the story at all.

Fans of Warhammer might not like the treatment of a particular group of warriors in this book, but their portrayal isn't that big of a stretch. You can find a similar portrayal of this particular group in one of the short stories in "Legends of the Space Marines."

As already stated, Mortensen is a fully developed character. Coming in with almost as much growth and description is Cadet-Commissar Koulick Krieg. He plays a very important role in this tale. Sanders develops this particular character slower, but it's this slow development that allows the reader to appreciate Krieg that much more.

A few members of the Redemption Corps (as well as a few strays they pick up along the way) do get some development. Vedette and Sarakota are two very interesting characters who I'd love to see in their own adventures down the road. I hope that Mortensen and Krieg return in more stories as well.

If you enjoy other Black Library titles that feature the Imperial Guard like "Cadian Blood" or even titles featuring the Astartes, you'll probably enjoy "Redemption Corps." It's an action-packed adventure full of page after page of violence, adventure, and suspense. Highly recommended.'

‘Hellacious’

This word grabbed my attention in review of Redemption Corps. Fortunately it does not describe the feelings of the reviewer James Atlantic towards the book, rather the nature of the situations the Redemption Corps find themselves in. This is such a good word that I fear I might have to recycle it. Words: a renewable source of inspiration. Now, what can I describe as ‘hellacious’? Mmmm.

In the meantime, the review can be found in its entirety here. Extra respect goes out to James, who I’ve discovered is a teacher. Perhaps that is why the word ‘hellacious’ is part of his extensive vocabulary.

Kicking Ass and Taking Names

Just found this. The guys over at Rules Manufactorum have created statistics and gameplay rules for Major Zane Mortensen, from my novel Redemption Corps. The specifications demonstrate clear attention to detail and have sparked some debate over how the major’s inability to feel pain could be represented in game terms. Thanks guys. Hopefully, Mortensen kicks as much ass on the tabletop as he does in the novel!

‘Age of Darkness’ Reviews

I have long enjoyed the reviews of Stefan Fergus on the blog Civilian Reader. His reviews are always thoughtful and fair, demonstrating a wealth of literary experience and an eye for detail. He has recently posted a review on the Horus Heresy short story anthology Age of Darkness. Age of Darkness contains my story, The Iron Within, and Civilian Reader has many nice things to say about it. Follow the link below to check out Civilian Reader and the review. Below that is Civilian Reader’s review of my first novel, Redemption Corps.

http://civilian-reader.blogspot.com/2011/04/age-of-darkness-edited-by-christian.html

http://civilian-reader.blogspot.com/2010/06/redemption-corps-by-rob-sanders-black.html

Where The Hell Have I Been?

You know you have been neglecting your blog when you’ve forgotten which buttons do what on the posting Dashboard. Have been busy with a whole myriad of things, many creative, some horrifying and some simply required. Among the horrifying was an ‘Ofsted’ inspection: teachers just love those, I can tell you. Clearing out my garage was just required. It could hold no more and something had to be done about it. A something that basically amounted to three full days transporting junk to the local dump.

I promised more Review highlights and since many people have been saying many nice things about ‘Redemption Corps’ I should really get on that, but other forthcoming projects demand the attention. The fantastic folks at Black Library have posted my next novel on their ‘Coming Soon’ section. It is called ‘Atlas Infernal’ and the appropriately epic sounding blurb is as follows:

Inquisitor Bronislaw Czevak is a hunted man. Escaping from the Black Library of the eldar, Czevak steals the Atlas Infernal – a living map of the Webway. With this fabled artefact and his supreme intellect, Czevak foils the predations of the Harlequins sent to apprehend him and thwarts his enemies within the Inquisition who want to kill him. Czevak’s deadliest foe, however, is Ahriman – arch-sorcerer of the Thousand Sons. He desires the knowledge within the Black Library, knowledge that can exalt him to godhood, and is willing to destroy the inquisitor to obtain it. A desperate chase that will bend the fabric of reality ensues, where Czevak’s only hope of survival is to outwit the chosen of Tzeentch, Lord of Chaos and Architect of Fate. Failure is unconscionable, the very cost to the Imperium unimaginable.

Thanks to the blurb writer on that one. Good job! It’s a little known fact that authors do not tend to write their own blurbs – but do write their own books, you’ll be relieved to discover. We don’t farm that responsibility out. ‘Atlas Infernal’ is out in July so more on Bronislaw Czevak and his adventures later.

What else? I’m usually pretty cagey about future projects, but since other authors identified their contributions at ‘Games Day’, I can confirm that I too have a short story in ‘Victories of the Space Marines’, edited by Christian Dunn and out in April. Christian published my first work, so it’s always a pleasure to work with him and continuing that theme I can also announce that I have a short story in the forthcoming ‘Horus Heresy’ anthology ‘Age of Darkness’, out in May. Could I tell you more about these stories? Probably, but I won’t. Don’t want to ruin the surprise. You’ll see what I mean when you read them. You are going to read them, aren’t you?

Extract Up

The good people over at Black Library have put up a beefy extract from 'Redemption Corps' for your perusal.

http://www.blacklibrary.com/all-products/Redemption-Corps.html

Enjoy.

Redemption Corps

'Redemption Corps' is an Imperial Guard novel set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. It introduces the indefatigable Major Zane Mortensen and his air mobile storm-trooper regiment as they carry out spearheads, covert missions and special operations across the warzones of the Kaligari Cradle. If you like intrigue with your blistering action and characters you'll want to want to follow to the apocalyptic end, then 'Redemption Corps' is the novel for you.

'Redemption Corps' is available from April 10'.